Match device



' June 6, 1944. R, M ms 2,350,798

MATCH DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1942 INVENTOR. CZaremonT 'Roberi Morris ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH pnvIGE Claremont Robert Morris, New York, N. Y. 7 Application January 15, 1942, Serial no. 426,843 3'0laims. (c1. 206-- 36) This invention'relatesto match devices, and

more particularly to devices for association with a conventional match packet having a striking surface on an end lip of the packet.

The present-day match packet is constructed from a cardboardstrip ,with an end lip constiback to front a'n'd insertable under the lip.

Often, in use, the free end is not inserted back under the lip after a match has been torn from the packet, and the open packet is held in the hands after striking the match and while shielding the flame from the wind. Instances, some 'more serious than others, have resulted in.

matches remaining in the packet becoming ignited under the circumstances of use. There are even more prevalent instances. of burned fingers resulting from use of the hands to shield the burning match from the wind.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device whichwill protect the matches in a packet from one that is struck on the striking surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the flame of the struck match from the wind.

A further object is to properly situate the struck match and permit use of the flame for purpose of lighting a cigarette or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a guide for the match while being struck.

Again, an object of the invention is to guide the fingers holding the match for elevating the struck match from the paper or cardboard.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device readily applicable to and removable from a match packet. I

Other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art as the description progresses, both by direct statement thereof and by implication from the context.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of the macth device looking at the same from different sides and, in Figure 1, showing the device mounted in place on a match packet.

In said drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral Ill desi nates a match packet in general, which includes the usual cardboard cover strip of which one end, constituting a lip II, is at the lower. or stem end of strips ofmatches IZ adapted to be covered by the other or free end of the strip which thereby constitutes a front cover l3., The end edge of the-front cover is insertable under. the end edge of lip I l, for retaining the, cover in itsclosed position. The outside face of lip H is appropriately coated to form thechemically reacting scratch surface for the ignition of matches as usuaL; The match packet as described is perse well known as to construction and use and further;detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

, Thepresent invention contemplates provision of ameans, readily attachable on and detachable froma.m atch packet such as described above,

' and in use to assume a position cross-wise of the vpacket and longitudinally superposed upon the lip I I over the said striking surface. The length of the said device is accordingly preferred to be substantially equal to the width of the match packet, and the width of the device is substantially the depth of the said up II, and thus overlies said lip substantially in'its entirety.

The device of the' present invention is of sheet metal or other flame-resisting material and is fabricated in any approved manner to provide a chimney portion I4 which is hollow and shown substantially square in cross-section and approximately of a length one third of the width of the packet. These shapes and dimensions, however, are optional. The face l5 of the chimney portion l4 next the match packet lip II will be considered, for purposes of this description, the bottom of the device, and attention is called to the fact its length is just the length of the chimney portion, leaving the remainder of the lip of the .packet exposed within the device in use, but providing a metallic or heat-insulativeside walls for the chimney portion and in part 7 form means for attaching the device in place on the match packet. For that purpose, one side wall, as it, provides a longitudinal right-angle flange l8 which can be inserted under the edge of the lip which also receives the front cover of the packet. The other side wall I! provides a longitudinal resilient and inwardly curled flange [9 adapted to engage and resiliently grip the lower edge of the packet. At this side of the device a tab I9 is also shown stamped inwardly to provide a curved surface for engagement partially onto the scratch surface for aiding in the proper positioning and retention of the device.

The top of the device is shown as having one portion 20 parallel to and of substantially the same length as the bottom wall I5, and another portion 2| which slopes downwardly to engagement with the lip ll next the side edge of the packet. A tab 22 thereat projecting laterally from the end of the top Wall portion 2| at the side of the packet will lgeep the device from being slid longitudinally -onqthe lipf [If-under force exerted when lighting a match.'

Said top portion 2| of the top wall of the device is longitudinally slotted as at 23, from its end next the side of the packet up to the proximity of the chimney portion of the device, the end of the slot at 24 next the chimney portion tapering to a point or otherwise reducedin width for gripping a match stem forcibly entering the constriction resultant from the tapering.

It will now be apparent. from the foregoing that in use the device can be either slid or snapped onto a match packet and will'provide access of the match to be struck on the scratch surface by sliding the match with its head against the said scratch surface and its stem projecting through the slot.- Asthe user slides the match along, it ignites due to the'usual effects. However, since the match is usually gripped by the fingers reasonably close to the head, the holding partially overlying said bottom wall with said overlying portion of the top wall, the bottom wall comes to'and wedges in the constricted end of the slot which serves to hold the match as the lighted part continues to burn in the chimney. The flame is available at the far end of the chimney through the open end thereof, for lighting a cigarette or thelike'. Usually, in use-the device will be held so its open chinmey end is upward, thereby affording maximum protection from the wind and maximum draft for theflame which then has metal at all four sides thereof.

and contiguousportions' of the side walls forming a chimney and the sloping portion of the top wall providing means for introducing and striking a match therethrough for enabling the flame to enter and be protected from wind by said chimney.

2; A match device having side walls; a bottom wall having a length in the direction of but less than the over-all length of the device; and a top wall in part sloping from the level of the bottom wall but remote from said bottom wall to a position substantially above said bottom wall and partially overlying said bottom wall with said overlying portion of the top wall, the bottom wall and contiguous'portions of the side walls forming a chimney and the sloping portion of the top wall'providing means for introducing and striking a match therethrough for enabling the flame to enter and be protected from wind by said chimney, and means for mounting the device with respect to the scratch surface of a matchpacket and with one wall of the chimney constituting a protection from the flame for the scratch surface. 

